Washing machine mixing tank



7 Nov. 17, 1936. J. D. EVANS WASHING MACHINE MIXING TANK Filed Dec.

19, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 17, 1936.

Nov. 17, 1936. J. D. EVANS WASHING MACHINE MIXING TANK Filed Dec. 19, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet s .IOShIllLD-EUQIZS Zlnncntur Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES zseisii PATENT @FMQE Joshua D. Evans, Berkeley, Calif., assignor of one-third to Jennie Wright, Berkeley, Calif.

Application December 19, 1933, Serial No. 703,123

v 1 Claim.

This application relates to subject matter disclose-d in part in my former application No. 524,693, filed March 23, 1931, the same having matured into Patent No. 1,931,721, granted on October 24, 1933.

The device which forms the subject matter of this application is a mixer, adapted to be used primarily but not exclusively in connection with a washing machine, such as that shown in the patent above mentioned. One object of the invention is to provide novel means for producing the necessary agitation, both as to the construction of the agitator, and as to the mounting and operation thereof, another object of the invention being to provide novel means for governing the quantity of liquid discharged.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in horizontal section, the mixer embodied in this application;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the mixer;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the controlling device;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing a modification.

The mixer embodies a support, which may be a floor I, carrying an elevated platform 2, about which extends a rail 3. Access is had to the platform 2 by steps 4.

A horizontal cylindrical tank 5 is provided. The mixing tank 5 extends above and below the platform 2, as shown in Fig. 2. At one end, the mixing tank 5 is provided with a fixed head 6. At its opposite end, the mixing tank is provided with a removable head i held in place by securing elements 8. At the last-specified end of the mixer, the tank 5 is carried by brackets 9 (Fig. 1) on a frame In mounted on the floor I. The opposite end of the mixing tank 5 is supported from the floor i (Fig. 2) by legs II. The legs H are connected by a brace l2. The tank 5 carries a hopper l4, located in convenient relation to the steps 3, near to one end of the tank 5, the hopper M having a lid l5.

Hot and cold water are supplied to the mixing tank 5 by pipes l6 entering the fixed head 5. Another pipe, marked by the numeral ll, opens through the head 6 of the mixing tank 5, this pipe being adapted for connection with the float control (not shown) which governs the entrance of the water by way of the pipes l6.

The heads 6 and l are provided with bearings l8 in which is journaled a shaft l9, which may be operated by fast and loose pulleys 20, or in any other suitable manner. Leakage about the shaft I9 is prevented by glands 2i carried by the bearings l8.

Within the mixing tank 5, the shaft l9 carries a rotatable agitator embodying end pieces 22 and an intermediate piece 23, these parts 22 and 23 comprising radial arms (Fig. 2). The members 22 and 23 of the agitator are held on the shaft it? by keys 24, the keys being held in the hubs of the members 22 and 23 (Fig. 1) by set screws 25.

The arms of the members 22 and 23 of the agitator have lateral sockets 26 and the sockets of the members 22 are provided with tapered seats 21. The longitudinal members 28 of the agitator may be in the form of pipes, extended through the seats 21 and carrying abutment disks 202 which engage the inner ends of the sockets 26 of the end members 22. Conical nuts 29 are threaded on the longitudinal members 28 of the agitator, and cooperate with the seats 21 to hold the members 28 against longitudinal movement in the parts 22 and 23 of the agitator. The ends of the longitudinal members 28 of the agitator are closed by removable caps 30.

The bottom of the mixing tank 5 has a plurality of outlet pipes 3|, each of these pipes being of rectangular form, in elevation, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the outlet pipes 3! are connected to flanges I00, on the lateral branches ID! of T-shaped couplings or conduit members 32. Closure plugs 34 are threaded into the upper ends of the couplings 32. In the lower ends of the couplings 32 there are recesses I02, receiving valve seats M3, made of rubber or any other suitable substance, the recesses receiving, also, retaining rings I04 which hold the valve seats 103 in place, the retaining rings being attached to the lower ends of the couplings 32 by securing elements Hi5. The couplings 32 have outstanding flanges I06 at their ends.

Vertically movable frames I07 are provided.

Each frame I01 includes rods I08 mounted 'to slide in the flanges I06 of the couplings 32. Nuts I09 are threaded on the lower ends of the rods I08, and retain thereon a foot plate I I provided with a central opening III receiving the shank II2 of a conical valve I14 adapted to cooperate with the valve seat I03. A securing element H5 is threaded into the foot plate I I0 and engages the shank II2 of the valve H4, to hold the valve II4 firmly assembled with the foot plate IIO. A U-shaped yoke H6 is disposed between the upper ends of the rods I08 of the frame I01 and has outwardly extended ends I I7 through which the upper portions of the rods I08 extend, the ends II! of the yoke I I6 resting on lower nuts I I 8 threaded on the rods I08. A top bar I I9 is mounted on the upper portions of the rods I08 and rests on the ends III of the yoke II6. Upper nuts I20 are threaded on the rods I08 and engage the top bar I I 9, to hold it in place. The upper end of a stem I2I is threaded into the top bar II9. A nut I22 is threaded on the stem I2I and engages the top bar I I9. The lower end of the stem IZI passes downwardly through the bottom portion of the yoke H6. A securing element I23, such as a screw, is mounted in the lower portion of the yoke I I6 and engages the bottom portion of the stem I2I. A lower abutment disk I24 is slidable on the stem IZI. An upper abutment disk I25 is mounted on the stem I2I. The upper abutment disk I25 is engaged by superposed nuts I26 threaded on the stem IZI. A compression spring I 2! surrounds a portion of the stem I2I and is located between the disks I24 and I25. The disks I24 and I25 have peripheral flanges for the retention of the spring I21. The eifort of the spring I2! may be varied by adjusting the superposed nuts I26 upwardly and downwardly on the stem I2 I.

A shaft 48 extends the full length of the machine, and is carried for rocking movement on the legs I I and on the frame I0. The shaft 48 is provided, at one end, with a handle 49, whereby the shaft may be operated. The handle 49 carries a latch mechanism I28, adapted to cooperate with a segment I29 on the frame I0, to hold the shaft 40 in any position to which it may have been rotated. The shaft 43 has a plurality of arms 50, the securing means for the arms being marked by the numeral 5 I. The arms 50 are supplied with forks 52 which straddle the stems or plungers I2 I, below the lower abutment disks I24.

The couplings or conduit members 32 discharge into funnels II on the upper ends of pipes I0 leading to the tank 66 of a washing machine such as that shown in my prior patent above mentioned, although the device, in use, is not confined to such a purpose.

In practical operation, the washing fluids, soap, bluing, and the like, are cast into the hopper I4 and flow into the mixing tank 5, water and other liquids entering the tank through the pipes I6 and II. By way of the pulleys 20, or their equivalent, rotation is imparted to the shaft I9, and the shaft operates the agitator, including the parts 22, 23 and 28. The mixture is thoroughly agitated in the tank 5.

The shaft 48 is held against rotation by the engagement between the latch mechanism I20 on the handle 49 of the shaft 48 and the segment I29 on the frame I0. The spring I21 of Fig. 3 exerts a downward pressure on the lower disk I24, and the lower disk is pressed against the fork 52 of the arm 50 on the shaft 48. The spring I2I presses upwardly on the upper abutment disk I 25, and the entire frame I0! is raised,

so that the valve I I4 is kept in engagement with the seat I03. When the operator wishes to discharge the contents of the tank 5, he rotates the shaft 48 by means of the handle 49, and the arm 50 of Fig. 3 swings downwardly. This permits the entire frame I01 to move downwardly, and the valve .4 is spaced from the valve seat I03. The liquid flows from the tank 5 through the pipe 3|, and through the coupling 32 into the funnel II or other place of use. By reversal of the operation above described, the valve I I4 may be closed, and the supply of liquid cut off, in a way which will be obvious when Fig. 3 of the drawings is examined.

In Fig. 5, the tank I30 corresponds to the tank 5, and the funnel I3I represents the funnel II. The tank I30 has any desired number of openings I32 in its bottom. Each opening I32 is in register with an opening I33 in a base block I34 that abuts against the bottom of the tank I30. Guide rods I35 are provided. The guide rods I35 pass through the base block I34. The upper ends of the guide rods I35 are threaded at I36 into the tank I30. Nuts I3I are threaded on the guide rods I35, and. engage the base block I34 to hold it in place. In the bottom of the base block I34 there is a recess I38 corresponding to the recess I02. In the recess I38 are mounted a valve seat I39, corresponding to the valve seat I03, and a retaining ring I40 for the valve seat, the retaining ring corresponding to the ring I04. The ring I40 is held in place by securing elements I 4|, engaging the base block I34, and corresponding to the securing elements I05. A foot plate I42 is held on the lower ends of the guide rods I35 by nuts I43.

A frame I44 is provided. The frame I44 comprises a top bar I45 and a bottom bar I46. The top bar I45 and the bottom bar I46 are mounted to reciprocate on the guide rods I35. The top bar I45 is connected to the bottom bar I46 by standards I41 attached to the top bar I45 and to the bottom bar I46 by securing elements I48. A stem or plunger I49 is disposed between the standards I41. The stem or plunger I49 passes through the top bar I45 and the bottom bar I46. The lower portion of the stem or plunger I49 is held in the bottom bar I46 by a securing element I50 mounted in the bottom bar. The upper portion of the stem or plunger I49 is held in the top bar I45 by a securing element I5I. The securing elements I50 and I5I may be screws. The upper end of the stem or plunger I49 is hollow, to receive the shank I52 of a conical valve I53 which cooperates with the valve seat I39. The securing element I 5| holds the shank I52 of the valve I53 assembled with the upper end of the stem or plunger I 49. A lower abutment disk I54 is slidably mounted on the stem or plunger I 49. The lower abutment disk I54 corresponds to the lower abutment disk I24. An upper abutment disk I55, corresponding to the abutment disk I25 is slidably mounted on the plunger I49. Superposed nuts I56 on the plunger I49 engage the upper abutment disk I55 and are employed to vary the effective pressure of a compression spring I51, corresponding to the spring I21, and located about the plunger I49, between the disks I54 and I55. The plunger I49 is straddled, below the lower abutment disk I54, by a fork I58, corresponding to the fork 52 of the arm 50 of Fig. 3.

The operation of the device shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings does not differ sufficiently from the operation of the device shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so that it need to be gone into in detail.

Broadly speaking, the chief difference is that the valve N4 of Fig. 3 closes upwardly with respect to the coupling 32, whereas the valve E53 of Fig. 5 closes upwardly with respect to the base block l34.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a mechanism for reducing the time that an agitator need be operated, a substantially horizontal, elongated mixing tank, means for delivering liquids of difierent kinds to the mixing tank, a single agitator operating in the mixing tank and substantially coextensive in length with the tank, outlets for the mixing tank, spaced apart throughout the length of the mixing tank and located on the bottom of the tank, means under the control of an operator for opening or closing 5 all the outlets at once, a receiver, and funnels discharging into the receiver and receiving liquid from the respective outlets, the funnels being open, to permit sampling of the mixture that passes into any funnel from any outlet.

JOSHUA D. EVANS. 

